Chris Hughton insisted tonight james Vaughan is not set for an imminent season-long loan switch to Celtic. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd

Injured Steven Whittaker to miss Norwich City’s Premier League opener

Paddy Davitt, EDP Sports Writer Tuesday, July 31, 2012
10:46 PM

Chris Hughton confirmed after tonight’s 1-1 friendly draw against Ajax summer signing Steven Whittaker will miss the Premier League kick-off with ankle ligament damage.

The Scottish international watched his team mates at Carrow Road with a protective boot on the left foot injured in last week’s 1-0 win at Celtic. Hughton revealed Whittaker will not need to undergo surgery following extensive scans by City’s medical team – but the Norwich chief has ruled him out of his plans for the opening day trip to Fulham on August 18.

Midfielder David Fox (knee) is Hughton’s other injury concern with the midfielder yet to play any part in the club’s encouraging pre-season build up.

“Steven will be a few weeks,” said Hughton. “The good thing is it could have been worse and you do fear when a player goes over on an ankle and it is as sore as it was at the time he did it. The good news is it is nothing more than recovery. It doesn’t need any type of surgery or operation but it will be a matter of weeks. It’s just a little bit of ligament damage. I don’t think he’ll be ready for the start of the season. We are talking weeks, so not for the start of the season.

“With David he is a little bit slow in his recovery, but we are hoping he will train with the group Thursday or Friday and we will push him on from there. He has missed all of the pre-season so far. Although he has been doing some good running, regarding his ball work with the team he is a few weeks behind.”

Hughton also dismissed reports striker James Vaughan is poised for a season-long loan switch to SPL champions Celtic. The Norwich manager insists every senior star in his squad remains under consideration for the Premier League campaign.

“There is nothing in that. That is news to me,” said Hughton. “What will always happen is that names are going to be mentioned, in or out. What I have to do is formulate the squad I want come the start of the season, the end of the month. James has done well in the period of time that he has been with us since the start of pre-season. James comes into the same category as everybody else. He is pushing for a place like the rest of the lads. At this moment I have got five forwards that are all pushing for places and want to be part of the plans and they are decisions I need to make over this pre-season period.”

Vaughan played the opening 45 minutes of a tough friendly against the four-time European Cup winners.

“It was a big test,” said Hughton. “They really showed their quality, they are the Dutch champions.”

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23 comments

Lynn claimed they were happily married but he said she was Fakenham.

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Swiss Canary

Friday, August 3, 2012
Or the A148 scandal where a man left Lynn and ended up in Barney.

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Swiss Canary

Friday, August 3, 2012
Earthwork (ancient) near Malting Green, Essex.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, August 2, 2012
Fingringhoe, Essex

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, August 2, 2012
I did a special Wivenhoe one for budgie, but it must be "offensive" `cos it keeps disappearing! :-(

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, August 2, 2012
How about a Naarfolk style cheep, cheap joke. Hear about the ol` boy who left Brooke for Len Wade? Awful. The pits. SORRY too! ;-)

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, August 2, 2012
Cheap, cheap, budgie.

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canarydownunder

Thursday, August 2, 2012
SORRY

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wivenhoebudgie

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
there's a very old joke about an australian who left Adelaide for Sydney, how did it go..

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wivenhoebudgie

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
I would of liked to see Whittaker start against Fulham, he was looking lively for what he played against Celtic. I'm sure he'll be fit soon enough though! OTBC

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Scrimmage Canary

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
HOT OFF THE PRESS! Andy Pandy Carroll is coming to Naaridge! Liverpool have paid £23 million to us to take him away, and will also subsidise his National Minimun Wage. All good! OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Holt cannot do the whole 90 mins at Premier League pace and will do less as his contract extends. Vaughan looks like his is really up for it in front of goal, as does Cinnamon J. We need two up front as you need a very special talent to play with one and that needs to be more van Persie than van Morrison.

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Swiss Canary

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Reply ethered, canarydownunder. Thanks for deconfusing me. ;-) OTBC

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
cdu adelaide is an imposter, MB - I'm in Sydney!

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canarydownunder

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
I sincerely hope that Vaughan-Blackburn thing is wrong, Swiss! It is only the Sun, I suppose. If he does leave, we`d definitely be short in the striker dept IMO. C. Martin doesn`t seem to have impressed so far pre-season, though I hoped he might. I`ve pre-concurred with your "50% injured" thinking, canarydownunder! Are you the same entity as canarydownunder adelaide or are there now two of you?? I also agree with your full-back concerns, very much.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Sid, budgie, there's no way Butterfield will be match fit enough to available for Fulham (hence 50%). Francomb hasn't featured in any of the pre-season games to my knowledge and Lappin, with all due respect, isn't good enough. For me that only leaves R Martin and Tierney as recognised full backs. R Bennett has played there but is most suited at centre back like Turner, Ayala, Barnett and Ward. We do need another full back.

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canarydownunder

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
According to The Sun, the year-long deal on Vaughan with Blackburn is done. I hope not.

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Swiss Canary

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Please dont let Vaughan go anywhere now he is recovered. The PL players know Norwich now and will not be underestimating them, esp with CH new manager. Hope SW recovers quickly - good luck to him.

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Geffy1

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Butterfield`s not fully recovered from his long term injury, Wiv, so canarydownunder`s 50% injured is sort of right! We don`t know whwn JB will be fit, he`s not in full training yet. We need a FB on loan. I wonder if Naughton is still "loanable?". Hoots must be well connected @ Spurs. OTBC. IHWT.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
There is Turner as well; the question will be where CH makes the cuts to have the right-sized squad. Whittaker's ankle is going to take some time, I hope this is not a portent for the future, one of the disgruntled 'Gers fans posted on here a while back about his injury prone nature.

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Swiss Canary

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
i agree it is a big blow for whittaker, but as budgie says only 25% of new signings and we don't need another Full back or any defenders at all, we have Ayala, Ward, Barnett, R.Bennett, Francomb, R. Martin and Tierney. Not forgetting E.Bennett can play left back and also the King of Spain. Don't think we have any issues with needing another defender.

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CanarySid

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
blast pre season injuries. and against celtic. . grrrr. note to canarydownunder. sorry mate but its 25% of new signings. Snodgrass Turner and Buttterfield still walking.

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wivenhoebudgie

Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The injury to Whittaker is a big blow. That's 50% of new signings not available. Its imperative that we get another full back in ASAP. We needed one before Whittaker's injury, now we probably need a short term loan as well as a long term purchase. IH&McNWT!

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canarydownunder

Wednesday, August 1, 2012